Abstract: A power distribution assembly for distributing a high current electrical input to a plurality of individual and varied current outputs. A lower housing has a plurality of integrally formed socket receptacle defined therein, a corresponding and assembleable upper housing including a plurality of receptacles and establishing an enclosed interior. First and second busbars each include a planar base portion and a plurality of extending terminal pin portions communicable with the receptacle portions of said upper housing. The planar base portions being arranged on opposite faces of a planar shaped and flexible circuit sheet and fastenably engaging, in sandwiching and electrically communicating fashion, to the opposite faces of the circuit sheet.

Abstract: An improved closure assembly for retaining fiber optic cables is disclosed wherein the closure assembly includes end plates having apertures for supporting the cables at the location of entry into the closure assembly. A unique gripping device is provided for retaining each cable with respect to the end plates, whereby sufficient force is applied to the cable to provide water-tight sealing at the junction of the cable and the end plate, yet with sufficient distribution of the force to avoid straining or distorting the cable. A unique optical fiber splice tray is disclosed having pivotal connectors at either end to permit attaching the trays in stacked relation, yet providing pivotal movement of each tray relative to the next adjacent tray, from either end. The trays include unique “V”-shaped integral fingers for retaining the individual optical fibers while permitting ready removal and reinsertion of the fibers for servicing of the closure assembly or the fibers.

Abstract: An enclosure for use in a cable management system includes an outer shell having a generally rectangular shape and defining an interior space. The outer shell includes a bottom wall and a sidewall, with the sidewall defining a sidewall opening for access to the interior space. The bottom wall includes a curved portion adjacent to a first edge. A tray positioned within the interior of the enclosure includes a curved portion positioned adjacent to a first edge of the tray. The first edge of the bottom wall and the first edge of the tray are positioned adjacent to each other such that the curved portion of the bottom wall and the curved portion of the tray together form a first radius control structure positioned adjacent to the sidewall opening.

Abstract: A lamp assembly for use with a vehicle's electrical system, the electrical system including a plurality of terminals each having a wire insulating portion and an end connector portion. A main elastomeric housing includes a socket for receiving a bulb. A front seal encircles an exterior surface of the socket and seals around a periphery of the socket. A first plurality of sealing ridges extend along an open facing side of the main housing, opposite the bulb socket, and within which are received the wire insulating portions of the terminals and the end connector portions of each terminal conmmunicating with the bulb socket upon the terminals being located within the main housing. A back cap matingly aligns over an open facing side of the main housing and includes an opposingly facing side with a second plurality of sealing ridges which align with the first plurality of sealing ridges and to sandwich therebetween the wire insulating portions of the terminals.

Abstract: An apparatus, called a wedge deadend, used to secure aerial fiber optic transmission lines or cables. The deadend and secured cable can effectively be attached to support structures such as poles or towers. The wedge deadend has a body that consists of multiple hinged segments that are opened and closed to load and access cable. The body accommodates multiple interlocking wedges which track the inside of the body and interlock with each other via teeth. Both the body segments and wedges are tapered such that one end of the body when closed is angled inwardly. When the body is closed, the wedges form an opening that is sized and textured to grip cables of various range diameters. The wedges are designed to compress the encased cable evenly along the entire contact surface of the cable.

Abstract: An electrical coupling device for a vehicle that includes a tub having side ends defining an upwardly facing perimeter edge surrounding an open interior. A plurality of female connectors are mounted within the tub open interior and arranged in axially extending and predetermined spaced apart fashion. Electrical components extend from the top surface of an electrical center and electrically communicate with male connectors constructed to the bottom surface of the electrical center. A lever pivotally engages with the tub and is rotated from a first disengaged position over and across the top surface of the electrical center to a second and electrically engaged position proximate the first end, and so that each of the male connectors is drawn in successive and engaging electrical contact, and with a significant minimization of mating force with the female connectors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for securing fiber optic cable to a connector, comprising providing a cable, said cable having an outer surface, an end section, a cable jacket, and a strengthening material; positioning a strain relief boot on said outer surface of said cable, said strain relief boot having an inner surface, wherein said inner surface has a first geometric pattern; providing a connector assembly, said connector assembly having a connector assembly part, a plug end, a cable end, and an exterior surface, wherein said exterior surface has a second geometric pattern which cooperates with said first geometric pattern on said inner surface of said strain relief boot, said connector part being located on said cable end; positioning said end section of said cable in a manner such that said cable jacket and said strengthening material touch, and cover said outer surface of said connector part; and using a simple tool to slide said strain relief boot toward said connector, and over said connector part, thereby

Abstract: A monolithic terminal interface for supporting, and establishing electrical contact to, components such as relays and fuses includes a terminal board fabricated from a self-supporting sheet of resilient, electrically insulating material. The terminal board includes one or more terminal sockets, each being defined by a terminal slot formed through the board. The terminal slot creates opposed contact beams which include contact portions spaced by a distance less than the thickness of a terminal. The contact portions of the contact beams engage a terminal inserted therebetween, and because of the resilient nature of the material of the board, maintain contact pressure with the terminal. A pattern of metalization extends across at least one face of the board and into the terminal slot so as to cover the contact regions in this manner, electrical contact can be established through the conductive metal pattern to a terminal inserted in the slot.

Abstract: A new and unique connector adapter shutter door assembly retrofitable to many existing connector adapters or receptacles which becomes a part of the same by connectedly fitting or snapping into place. The shutter door assembly can be used as a safety device to prevent laser light from escaping when a connector is removed from an adapter or receptacle. Because of the ease with which the shutter door assembly can be retrofitted to existing adapters, it is possible to selectively install the shutter door assembly only when a safety hazard is present. Also the shutter door assembly can be used to shield a connector end to prevent foreign matter, such as dust and dirt, from entering the connector. The shutter door assembly is a molded one-piece structure and has inwardly hinged doors permitting one hand connector insertion and withdrawal. The streamline design of the shutter door assembly takes very little space when in use making it desirable for typical space constrained applications.

Abstract: The splice enclosure of this invention provides an environmentally safe means for splicing, or joining together, two or more fiber optic cables. This particular enclosure is designed to handle re-entry for possible future splicing of cables not currently active, the addition of more cables or servicing of the existing cables. Further, the enclosure can be mounted to a support structure via mounting plates and fasteners or can be banded to the support structure. The enclosure includes a weather and impact resistant casing and a covered drawer that can be easily removed from the casing and taken to an area wherein splicing can be conducted. The drawer includes a splice tray retaining area that can accommodate several splice trays at a time. Further, the drawer includes a buffer tube storage area where stored buffer tubes will not exceed desired bend radius.

Abstract: An easily installable, robust device capable of securing and supporting cable even under extreme weather and loading conditions. The device supports cable during and after stringing of the cable. The device is easily adaptable to accommodate a large range of cable diameters and can be mounted to a variety of support structures.The device includes a body and cap formed via die casting. A non-machined hinge mechanism that is die cast as a portion of both the body and the cap connects the same and allows the device to be mounted as a single unit to a support structure. A two piece grooved elastomer bushing seats in the body and cap to surround and cushion the cable extending through the device. By altering the size of the grooves of the bushing, various diameter cable can be accommodated.Side walls having windows formed on the body of the trunion help facilitate distribution of the load of the cable.

Abstract: A circular layer of cleaning material is located on a circular elastomer pad located in a circular container. The layer of cleaning material has a surface capable of cleaning an exposed end of an optical fiber when the fiber end is rubbed against the surface of the layer. The circular container includes a base and cover that are relatively manually rotatable when assembled together, and the lid is provided with an opening for receiving the end of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making wire harness. The apparatus includes the use of a sequential wire processor that serially and sequentially fabricates circuits having terminal ends. The terminated circuits are transferred by a transfer means to an upstanding carousel provided with arrays of circuit-receiving clips. The transfer means receives terminated circuits from the sequential wire processor and places them on the clips of the carousel. The carousel is then moved to an assembly line and robotic station where robots remove the circuits from the clips of the carousel and place the terminated ends of the circuits in cavities of connectors strategically located on the assembly line. The robots have end effectors that physically insert the terminal ends into the connector cavities.

Abstract: A multi-fiber receptacle that aligns and mates an MT or similar multi-fiber ferrule of a connector to an active device or to a lightguide means. The receptacle contains a lower chamber that houses a lightguide means that may be provided on a circuit board containing electronic components needing connection to the outside world via optical means. Above the lower chamber, the receptacle has an upper chamber which receives a connector employing a multi-fiber ferrule. The receptacle and connector are designed such that when the connector is received by the upper chamber, the ferrule fits into the lower chamber and is automatically aligned and mated with the lightguide means. Further, the receptacle and connector can be keyed in a manner that limits reception of a transmitter connector in a transmitter receptacle and a receiver connector in a receiver receptacle. The transmitter and receiver receptacles are preferably identical except for the keying feature.

Abstract: A junction box for motor vehicles in which first and second housing portions are provided for receiving and containing, respectively, low and high electrical current circuitboards. The housing portions extend in a generally common plane when connected together to form a housing unit. A planar insulating panel member containing buses and integral insulation displacement terminals are located between the housing portions and in a plane generally perpendicular to the common plane of the housing portions. The first and second housing portions are abutted and fastened together on opposed sides of the panel member with the buses and integral insulation displacement terminals. The insulation displacement terminals are effective to directly receive insulated wires of an electrical harness and electrically connect the same to the buses and to circuits of and electrical components associated with the circuitboards.

Abstract: An apparatus, called a wedge deadend, used to secure aerial fiber optic transmission lines or cables. The deadend and secured cable can effectively be attached to support structures such as poles or towers. The wedge deadend has a single assembled frame with an attaching cable for mounting to the support structure and two wedges that slide into the frame. The frame consists of two parallel plates. Each plate has two slots that are tapered and angled toward one another. The wedges are similarly tapered enabling them to be interlocked with the side plates. Both wedges also have a groove that is sized and textured to grip a specified cable. The wedges can be designed to compress the encased cable evenly along the entire contact surface of the wedge, or with varying force along such surface.

Abstract: A connector using an multi-fiber ferrule, such as the MT ferrule or similar ferrule, that can be plugged into and received by an optical receptacle. Multiple alignment features help align and mate the connector to another multi-fiber object. The connector has a guide prong or forward extension beneath which is mounted the ferrule. The prong provides a reference surface that functions as a precise pre-alignment mechanism for the ferrule. Also, the prong has a groove that mates with a corresponding rail of the receptacle when the connector is plugged into the receptacle ensuring that the connector is properly seated within the receptacle. Further, the ferrule has apertures that align with and receive guide pins of the lightguide means or active device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing electrical protection for circuits that use splice connections between a source of electrical power and wires of respective circuits. The splices provide a common connection of wires to the power source. The splice includes a positive temperature coefficient device in electrical series between the power source and the wires. The positive temperature coefficient device reduces the flow of current to the wires, and to any loads connected to the wires, when an excess amount of current flows through at least one of the wires and the splice. The temperature rise in the positive temperature coefficient device reaches a trip point, and the device remains in a trip state until power fed to the splice is removed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making wire harness. The apparatus includes the use of a sequential wire processor that serially and sequentially fabricates circuits having terminal ends. The terminated circuits are transferred by a transfer means to an upstanding carousel provided with arrays of circuit-receiving clips. The transfer means receives terminated circuits from the sequential wire processor and places them on the clips of the carousel. The carousel is then moved to an assembly line and robotic station where robots remove the circuits from the clips of the carousel and place the terminated ends of the circuits in cavities of connectors strategically located on the assembly line. The robots have end effectors that physically insert the terminal ends into the connector cavities.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ring terminal connector which includes a pair of like circular, substantially flat apertured terminals. Each terminal has a raised bump or nib on its upper surface and a nib opening on its upper surface such that the pair of terminals may be interlocked by fixing the raised nib of each terminal in the nib opening of the other terminal. The terminals also each have a pair of inwardly directed slotted flanges and an elongated opening or groove to properly orient one terminal with respect to the other. One of the terminals may be turned over and engaged with the other terminal such that by rotating one relative to the other, the terminals may be interlocked. Further, the terminals each have an integral outwardly directed crimping arm to receive wires and maintain a positive connection between the connector and the wires and/or the bolt to which the connector is attached.